Legend of Lake Fork 2009 PDF Print E-mail

There is only one word that can describe the “5th Annual Legend of Lake Fork Big Bass Tournament” that was held on May 16, 17, 2009. That word would be “Historical”. Eight hundred ninety four anglers representing 17 states and two countries converged on Lake Fork to test their skills in an attempt to pocket some of the $213,000 guaranteed in cash and prizes. The tournament presented by “The Fisherman’s Guide News” and Legend Boats and hosted by Lake Fork Marina anticipated large bass being caught during the course of the tournament, but not near the number or weights of the fish brought to the weigh-in.

Fishing hours for the anglers on Saturday and Sunday were from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the paid hours starting with the 7 to 8 o’clock hour and going to the 2 to 3 o’clock hour. Six places were paid per hour for the heaviest bass brought to the scales… $600 for 1st, $400 for 2nd, $300 for 3rd, $200 for 4th, and $100 gift certificates to the first two contes-tants knocked out of 4th place. Lake Fork being a slot lake, no bass between 16” and 24” could be brought to the weigh-in. Tournament rules were no bass under the slot could touch the 16” inch mark on the Chek-It-Stick and bass over the slot had to touch or ex-ceed the 24” mark.

During the course of the tournament, bass 24” or more won first in every hour except for two. In five of the paid hours during the competition there were two over 24” securing checks for the hour. Overall 20 bass over 24” were brought to the weigh-in for a total weight of 177.12-pounds. All together there were 256 bass weighed in for a total weight of 767.12-pounds.

Hourly cash prizes were not the only item on the agenda the anglers were competing for. Grand prizes in the tournament were four fully outfitted 2009 Legend Boats, powered by Mercury and Motorguide and equipped with Lowrance electronics. One of the new sleek Legend Boats was a draw boat. Only early entries received before April 30th qualified for the drawing. A 211-Alpha went to the heaviest bass over the slot, a 199-Alpha to the next heaviest bass over the slot, and a 199-Alpha for the heaviest bass under 16”.

On the first day of the tournament during the 11 to 12 o’clock hour Robert Rushing from Shreveport, Louisiana weighed in a lunker tilting the scale at 13.11-pounds. Lake Fork being the “Big Bass Capital of Texas”, many questioned whether this weight would remain unbeaten, but to Robert’s benefit and surprise it held winning him the grand prize of a 2009 Legend 211-Alpha, plus the $600 cash prize for 1st place in the hour.

During the 8 to 9 o’clock hour on Sunday Robert Williams from Yantis, Texas came to the scale with the second heaviest bass over the slot weighing 11.41-pounds. Robert won a 2009 Legend 199-Alpha, plus the $600 cash prize for 1st place in the hour.

David Vanderberg from Paris, Texas only won 3rd place and a check for $200 during the 2 to 3 o’clock hour on Saturday of the tournament. He had a bass under the 16” mark that weighed 2.99-pounds but in 1st place for the hour was a bass weighing 10.01-pounds caught by Adam Obrien, and in 2nd place was a bass weighing 9.90-pounds caught by Tom Morse. David was disappointed having such a heavy bass under 16” and only get-ting a check for 3rd place. This feeling was greatly changed when his weight held up through the tournament as the heaviest bass under the slot, winning him a 2009 Legend 199-Alpha.

In the drawing for the early entries for the 2009 Legend 199-Alpha, Nolan Price from Ft. Worth, Texas was the lucky angler to have his name drawn and took home a new boat just for entering early.

Lake Fork is known for big bass, but the catches in this two day tournament has set a new precedence. A bass weighing 13.11-pounds winning a tournament in the month of May after the spawn is historical in itself but when you add that to 19 others ranging in weight from 6.72-pounds to 11.41 pounds, it’s time for an entry in the history books.

Thanks to the success and growth rate of the tournament the “6th Annual Legend of Lake Fork Big Bass Tournament” has been extended to a three day event. Competing an-glers will be fishing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and will be held May 14, 15, 16, 2010. Any anglers wishing to be included on the mailing list should submit an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 903-383-7748.

Robert Rushing from Shreveport, Louisiana caught this bass weighing 13.11-lbs. and weighed it in during the 11 to 12 o’clock hour on Saturday of the tournament winning him a 2009 Legend 211-Alpha powered by Mercury and Motorguide and equipped with Lowrance Electronics. (Fisherman’s Guide Photo by Sue Hampton)

Robert Williams from Yantis, Texas weighed in an 11.41-lb. bass on the second day of the tournament during the 8-9 o’clock hour securing him second heaviest bass over the slot and winning him a 2009 199-Alpha powered by Mercury and Motorguide and equipped with Lowrance Electronics. (Fisherman’s Guide Photo by Sue Hampton)

Though disappointed to only win 3rd place in the 2 to 3 o’clock hour on the first day of the tournament, David Vanderberg was much relieved when he found out his 2.99-lb. bass held up as the heaviest bass weighed in under the slot winning him a 2009 199-Alpha powered by Mercury and Motorguide and equipped with Lowrance Electronics. (Fisherman’s Guide Photo by Sue Hampton)